FC Seoul vs FC Barcelona Lineups: XIs & Subs (Jul 31)

Barcelona’s preseason Asian tour delivered a goal-heavy spectacle on July 31, 2025, when the Blaugrana dismantled FC Seoul 7-3 at Seoul World Cup Stadium in front of 62,482 fans. The match showcased a striking contrast in quality—with Barcelona’s substitutes accounting for five of the seven goals after halftime changes reshaped the contest. Here’s the full breakdown of starting lineups, substitutions, and how the scoring unfolded.

Final Score: FC Seoul 3-7 FC Barcelona · Date: July 31, 2025 · Competition: Club Friendly · Venue: Seoul World Cup Stadium · Attendance: 62,482

Who scored in Barca vs Seoul?

Barcelona struck first through Robert Lewandowski, who converted in the 8th minute from open play. Lamine Yamal doubled the lead six minutes later with a composed finish, giving Hansi Flick’s side an early cushion. FC Seoul pulled one back through Cho Young-wook in the 26th minute, converting a counterattack opportunity to halve the deficit.

FC Seoul goal scorers

Cho Young-wook opened FC Seoul’s account in the 26th minute, slotting home after a through ball split the Barcelona defense. Yazan Al-Arab leveled the match at 2-2 in first-half stoppage time (45’+1), heading in from a set piece to stun the visitors momentarily. Han-Min Jung added a consolation strike in the 85th minute, exploiting poor defending by Barcelona’s second-half lineup to pull the score to 3-6 before Ferran Torres wrapped up the 7-3 final.

FC Barcelona goal scorers

Robert Lewandowski scored the opener in the 8th minute, clinical as ever in front of goal. Lamine Yamal netted a brace—first in the 14th minute, then again in first-half stoppage (45’+3) to restore the two-goal cushion after Seoul’s equalizer. Andreas Christensen capitalized on a corner kick in the 55th minute. Ferran Torres scored twice in the second half (74′, 88′), while Pablo Paez Gaviria, known as Gavi, struck Barcelona’s sixth goal in the 76th minute. Gavi captained the side for the second half as an acting captain.

“Substitutes Andreas Christensen, Ferran Torres and Gavi, acting as captain, found the back of the net with clinical finishes.”

— ESPN Match Report (ESPN match analysis)

What time is Barcelona vs FC Seoul?

The match kicked off at 12:00pm local time on July 31, 2025, at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The early afternoon kickoff time accommodated the international broadcast schedule and local summer weather conditions. This was Barcelona’s second stop on their Asian preseason tour, having played a previous friendly en route to South Korea.

Kickoff details

The friendly was scheduled as part of Barcelona’s summer tour, with the club marketing the match as a premium preseason fixture against a continental opponent. Local time alignment meant European viewers could tune in during early afternoon hours, while North American audiences caught the match in morning time slots.

Venue and date confirmation

Seoul World Cup Stadium hosted the fixture, drawing an attendance of 62,482—well above typical preseason friendly numbers and reflecting both Barcelona’s global drawing power and the curiosity surrounding FC Seoul’s challenge against European elite. The 2002 World Cup venue offered modern amenities and a capacity that approached the club record for a preseason friendly in Asia.

Is FC Seoul a good team?

FC Seoul competes in South Korea’s K-League 1, the country’s top domestic football tier, and historically ranks among Korea’s more successful clubs with multiple league titles. However, the 3-7 scoreline against Barcelona exposed the persistent quality gap between K-League clubs and elite European sides—even when those European clubs are mid-preseason.

Team history

Founded in 1983 as LG Chihiro, FC Seoul has accumulated multiple K-League championships and cup victories. The club regularly represents South Korea in AFC competitions, though European friendlies against clubs like Barcelona remain rare fixtures that test the squad against different tactical approaches and individual quality levels. Their squad includes a mix of experienced K-League veterans and younger prospects developing within the system.

Recent performance

In this match, FC Seoul demonstrated tactical organization and willingness to press high, matching Barcelona’s intensity in stretches. The 3-7 result flattered Barcelona; Seoul created quality chances and scored three goals against what remains a formidable European defense. The quality gap between both sides is significant and it will be more than evident on the pitch, noted Sports Illustrated’s preview—language that proved prescient but perhaps understated given the actual goal tally.

“The gap of quality between both sides is significant and it will be more than evident on the pitch.”

— Sports Illustrated Preview (SI.com match preview)

Where to watch FC Seoul vs FC Barcelona?

The friendly aired on DAZN in several international markets, leveraging the platform’s football rights portfolio for European club friendlies. Regional sports networks and club subscription services also carried the fixture, with Barcelona’s official app and website providing match updates for subscribers worldwide.

Live streaming options

DAZN held primary streaming rights for this club friendly as part of their broader European football coverage package. The platform’s presale began weeks ahead of the match, with standard and premium tiers offering varying replay access. Barcelona’s own subscription service also provided live commentary and match statistics for registered users.

Broadcast details

Beyond DAZN, local Korean broadcasters carried the fixture for domestic audiences, ensuring the 62,482 in attendance were joined by millions watching nationally. European coverage varied by country, with some territories requiring club-specific subscriptions rather than general streaming platforms.

What were the FC Seoul vs FC Barcelona lineups?

The actual FC Seoul starting XI included goalkeeper 31 Kang Sung-yoon between the posts, with defenders 22 Jin-Su Kim, 5 Yazan Al-Arab, 18 Kim Tae-wook, and 63 Park Dong-kyu across the backline. The midfield featured 7 Jeong Seung-won, 8 Lee Hak-yoon, 27 Moon Seon-min, and 10 Jesse Lingard operating in advanced roles. Up front, 70 Anderson Oliveira and 9 Cho Young-wook led the line. Barcelona, meanwhile, started with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Frenkie de Jong among their first-half XI, with coach Hansi Flick making minimal changes from last season’s La Liga-winning team.

FC Seoul starting XI

ESPN’s match data confirmed FC Seoul’s lineup: Goalkeeper 31 Kang; defenders 22 Jin-Su, 5 Al-Arab, 18 Tae-Wook, 63 Park; midfielders 7 Seung-Won, 8 Lee, 27 Seon-Min, 10 Lingard; forwards 70 Oliveira, 9 Cho. The lineup differed slightly from pre-match predictions by Sports Illustrated, which had projected Hwang In-beom and Rodrigues in different positions, suggesting manager Kim Ho-kon adjusted his approach after reviewing Barcelona’s expected formation. Substitutes for Seoul included Kim Ji-Won, Park Jang Han-Gyeol, and Lim Jun-Sub, with Cheol-won Choi, Joon-Seob Im, Jun Choi, H. Bae, and Seong-hun Park also seeing game time.

FC Barcelona starting XI

Barcelona’s first half featured Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Frenkie de Jong confirmed as starters, with Jules Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Iñigo Martínez, and Alejandro Balde expected in defense based on pre-match reports. Midfield contributions from Pedri supplemented de Jong’s playmaking. The lineup aligned closely with predictions from Sporting News, which had suggested Joan Garcia in goal—though Marc-Andre ter Stegen remained sidelined due to lower back surgery with Joan Garcia now established as Barcelona’s new first-choice goalkeeper. Hansi Flick made few changes to the starting XI from last season’s La Liga winners.

Key substitutions

Barcelona made sweeping changes at halftime, swapping all 11 outfield players for fresh legs—a standard preseason rotation to evaluate squad depth. Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, entered at halftime looking to build match fitness but was denied by the Seoul goalkeeper twice in his cameo. Andreas Christensen, Ferran Torres, and Gavi all made immediate impacts, scoring after entering as substitutes. FC Barcelona officially confirmed that Barça had a different XI for each half, validating the dramatic squad rotation strategy.

Match Timeline

The scoring chronology illustrates Barcelona’s control despite Seoul’s brief equalizing spells. For a detailed look at the match, you can read the latest report on Man United vs Ipswich Town. Man United vs Ipswich Town

Confirmed Facts vs. Rumors

Quotes

“Barça make it two out of two with a commanding win over FC Seoul in a game with no less than 10 goals.”

— FC Barcelona Official (FC Barcelona club site)

“Substitutes Andreas Christensen, Ferran Torres and Gavi, acting as captain, found the back of the net with clinical finishes. The gap of quality between both sides is significant and it will be more than evident on the pitch.”

— ESPN Match Report & Sports Illustrated Preview (ESPN, Sports Illustrated)

Summary

Barcelona’s 7-3 victory over FC Seoul delivered exactly what preseason friendlies aim to provide—minutes for the squad, goals for confidence, and data for coaching staff. The 11 halftime substitutions reshaped the match, with substitutes accounting for five goals and Marcus Rashford getting his first minutes since joining on loan. Poor defending from Barcelona’s second-half lineup conceded three goals, an area Hansi Flick will address before competitive action begins. For FC Seoul, scoring three against a Champions League-level defense offers encouragement despite the heavy defeat.

For Barcelona’s front office, the message is clear: continue rotating aggressively through remaining friendlies to build squad cohesion, or risk key contributors burning out before October’s intensified schedule. For Seoul, the experience of testing themselves against European elite provides invaluable data for K-League preparations.

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Barcelona’s lineups delivered a 7-3 friendly triumph over FC Seoul on July 31, with Yamal’s brace shining through as in the full match result and details from Seoul’s World Cup stadium.

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